Week of February 3, 2008
Album:
Game For All Who Know (Merlin HF 6) 1973
CD: Background HBG 122/3, 1994; Acme ACLN1003CD
Personnel:
Lee Menelaus - the female voice
John Ferdinando - guitars, vocals, bass, organ, auto-harp
Peter Howell - guitars, piano, organ, mandolin, percussion, recorder, tape
effects
Brian Hussey - drums
Robert Ferdinando - classical guitar
Andrew Lowcock - flute, timpani
Martin Garrett - 12-string guitar
A very rare privately-pressed demo-only album which is heavily influenced by
the early seventies Moody Blues sound. In other words, we're talking
progressive pop/rock with quasi-mystical lyrics. Some will love it, others will
feel it typifies all that's bad in the genre. Among the better moments are "Dreams
and Times".
The individuals responsible for this had earlier been involved in Agincourt,
Alice Through The Looking Glass and Tomorrow Come Some Day.
The Ithaca album is a mega-rarity, but some further copies appeared on
the market when the band were tracked down. According to Record Collector, the
earlier market value (£1,500) has since been halved.
The band were also responsible for an acetate album called "Friends",
but this was never released.
Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The
Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and
Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson
ISBN 1 899855 04 1